Aplastic Anaemia Trust Silver Jubilee Triathlon 2010 – PLEASE SPONSOR ME

Dear Friends and Supporters

This year I will once again be fundraising by participating in the Aplastic Anaemia London-Paris Triathlon. The 2010 AAT Triathlon will be an enormously special event as it will be the 25^th time it has been run, a Silver Jubilee AAT Triathlon. Once again the Triathlon will kick off in London’s Hyde Park, set around (and in!) the Serpentine and will then move, by Eurostar, into France for the cycling leg. Incidentally, the London venue has also been chosen as the backdrop for the 2012 London Olympics triathlon events! The triathlon comprises a 1km swim, 10km run and an 80km cycle ride. It’s nasty, it’s hot and it’s exhausting but I do it because it helps fight aplastic anaemia.

For many years I have maintained a close contact with the Aplastic Anaemia Trust (theaat.org.uk), a charity very dear to my heart, and joined the AAT Board of Trustees three years ago. The AAT supports the research and development of treatment of aplastic anaemia, a form of bone marrow failure. The trust has helped to establish and support the UK's centre of excellence for the treatment and research of this disease in London and is the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising money to support aplastic anaemia sufferers and their families (through research, information and advice). The disease is a life-threatening form of bone marrow failure similar to leukaemia and is particularly severe when contracted by children.
 
Our small charity continues to support the cause of aplastic anaemia sufferers and the demand for AAT support from patients and their families has not waned during these challenging times. We are highly efficient in being able to directly commit over 90% of funds raised to help fight aplastic anaemia with less than 10% of funds going to administration.

When the London Paris Triathlon started 25 years ago, only 3 in 10 sufferers survived the illness. Now, largely due to the funds raised in this event, the figure has risen to 8 in 10. Great news, but there is still more to do and you could help by sponsoring me in this event.

 
I have been fortunate enough to benefit from the enormous advances that have been made in understanding and treating the disease and know from first-hand experience how important your contribution is and what a difference it can make. My participation in the AAT Triathlon is testament to this.

 

I know that these are difficult times but would ask that you give as generously as you can. Every amount you give goes into fighting aplastic anaemia and means a great deal to those who suffer from it.

Importantly, it goes without saying that I pay for the travel and event costs out of my own pocket, as do all the participants. Your donation will go entirely to funding the AAT.

Thank you for supporting the AAT!

Sven Moos

PS: if your employer has a corporate sponsoring programme, please do let me know!